Page 41 of The Magic of Eternity
The air stilled around me as I took in his words, the way his eyes pierced into my soul, the way his hands gripped his knees.
His leg bounced and fire danced in his eyes. “Do you know what happened next?” Khol asked me in a low voice, not expecting an answer, though I had an idea. “An uprising, to our surprise. On the day of the execution, we were gathered much like this. Two men were led to the center of the group. They were sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered.”
“Fucking hell,” I breathed, unable to keep quiet at the thought of such barbarism.
“It’s a truly horrific way to die, but Asrael was beaming. Excitement rolled off of him in waves. Anyway, as we began securing each noose around the males’ necks to begin the first part of their execution, Asrael started addressing the crowd. It was his typical display of ego. It’s all he ever cares about—being in power, being the strongest, and feeling like he’s above everybody else.” I was hanging onto every word Khol was weaving, practically seeing the scene before my eyes.
“That’s when I saw her. A woman materialized as she broke from the crowd. I’ll never forget the look on her face, almost as if she was in a daze as she approached. You see, the two males we were about to kill were her mates. Her long hair fell free and down her back; it was the color of a nearly ripe strawberry. She moved like a phantom, and Asrael didn’t notice her at first, but I did. I wanted to see what she would do. From somewhere, maybe within the folds of her skirt, she produced a knife. I’d barely seen the glint of silver before she launched it through the air with amazing speed. Her aim was slightly off, as it hit Asrael in his shoulder. But the moment the blade made contact with his body, the crowd erupted.
“When Asrael realized who it was that had cost this whole plan of his to go off the rails, it was like he had tunnel vision only for her. He walked down from the platform and yanked the knife from his shoulder. The woman stood tall, waving off help from others in the crowd, not wanting them to assist her. She sneered at him and he called her awful names. Their weapons were slicing through the air, clanging together as she blocked him time and time again. Then she made one wrong move, and the knife that she’d hurled at her enemy to save her mates sank into her belly. He dragged that blade up, causing maximum damage. Her mouth opened in shock as blood began running over her lips. Asrael just laughed, spitting on her as he pulled out the blade. He pushed her down onto the ground, as if she was nothing more than an annoying little bug that he needed to put an end to. He didn’t spare her a second glance, turning and diving into the fray, killing any who crossed his path.
“I found myself moving toward the woman. As I knelt down beside her, I knew there was no hope for her. At this point, she had already lost too much blood and her face was whiter than a sheet of parchment. Her eyes already had that dull look—you know the one, where someone is floating between the veil, the other side coming into focus and this side fading. A little awareness returned as she gasped for air, and her eyes lifted to my face so slowly, as she struggled to hang on.
“The question that was burning me alive left my lips without permission. I asked her why? Why would she do such a stupid thing? My mind couldn’t comprehend such an act of stupidity. And through labored breaths, she told me, ‘Because there is no me without them. This will have all been worth it if they make it out alive. Are they alive?’ Her declaration hit me with the force of a speeding dragon, and I fell onto my ass and watched two tears fall from the same eye, one for each of her mates.
“I scanned the crowd, which was more like a mob at this point, and spotted the two males who had been marked for death. They fought back to back. True warriors. Not realizing that their mate was laying twenty feet away, gasping for her last breaths. I found myself reaching for her hand.
“I wasn’t familiar with these feelings, you see. It was all so foreign. I didn’t like the way it made me feel—as though I was the enemy. So I held her cool hand and told her ‘They’re alive. You did well. You’re a warrior, and today you saved your loves. Sleep now, wild one.’ Her mouth morphed into a smile. She sighed happily, and that was the last breath she took. I couldn’t bear to see how her men would react when they found her body. So like a true coward, I left. But you know what? I see her face often in my mind, and I always thought if I was ever blessed to have a daughter one day, I hoped that she would be like that woman. Brave and unafraid to love with her whole heart.
“Saige reminds me of this woman. Wild, free. Do you understand what I’m telling you? Bram, history often repeats itself. Not everything is what it seems. Sometimes we need to take a closer look. To realize the truth.”
My heart hammered as I considered Khol’s words. I let his story flow through my mind and I could almost picture it. That horrible scene, that poor woman, knowing what was to come, and yet she refused to accept it. Death was not to be the fate of her men that day. She took their fate and turned it into her own.
Was he trying to say that Goldie was going to sacrifice herself for my life? No, I’d never let that happen. I glanced over at him and saw the way he was taking in the courtyard. I’d seen that look several times before on his face—the man was plotting. My eyes found their way to each of the guards and I noticed that they, too, looked like they were plotting.
“You can’t demand loyalty, Bram. That’s not how this works. Loyalty is earned and given to those who deserve it. You never know how small a gesture can impact somebody’s life. Every time you’re kind and understanding, that matters. That is something that Asrael never learned, and he never will.”
“What’s going on here, Khol? What the hell is happening? Because I can’t help but feel that I am missing something important.” I spoke harshly, but my heart was frantically pounding in my chest. I didn’t want to get my hopes up. “Where is she? Have you heard anything?” My tone was demanding, but gods damn I needed some fucking answers, not riddles.
Khol’s leg continued to bounce. It was all I could focus on now. “All I know,” he said slowly, “is that she’s alive. She’s far from here, as she should be.”
My eyes fell shut as I tipped my head back to the sky. “Thank you.”
She was alive and she wasn’t here, which meant she was far from Asrael’s evil grip. She needed to stay as far away from here as possible. I desperately hoped that she opened the portal the first chance she got and ran. I felt relief flood my body, picturing her safe in Emerald Lakes with her gran.
“How do you know this?” I asked Khol, once I regained the use of my voice.
“As I said, loyalty is something that’s earned, and I have done my time.”
“And the others?” I asked, holding my breath. “What about the rest of them?”
“From what I’ve heard, everyone is alive. Their whereabouts? That’s another story. I believe Saige is with the dragon.” My heart sank because she hadn’t left. Well, that had been a nice little daydream while it lasted. “The other original three are together, and they’ve been working on something.”
I was frustrated that Khol was still speaking in riddles, and while I was well-versed in coded messages, now that he’d opened the lid on speaking about them, I needed to know.
“What about Faris? What about him?” Khol visibly swallowed, and I got a sick feeling in my stomach. “What? Tell me... What do you know?”
“Listen, Bram. We aren’t the only ones marked for death today. There’s a third. I don’t know what shape he’s in, but I’ve heard it’s not pretty. When he’s brought out here, you need to control yourself. Do you understand me? You need to stay calm and trust that the stars will see us through.”
My hands clenched into fists. What had they done to Baby Fang? He was so innocent and pure. The thought of him alone with these monsters who were capable of literally anything was enough to wake up my demon.
I barely had time to process what Khol had said when the large double doors before us swung open. Ten guards escorted a man toward the platform. He was dressed in rags that were covered in blood. His entire body was red, and he thrashed like a wild animal, growling and snarling, snapping his teeth.
“What the fuck...” I whispered. I noticed Khol was now still as a statue beside me, his knee no longer bouncing to a silent beat.
“I did what you wanted!” the bloodied man shouted. “I killed fifty of them. Fifty! I didn’t even bat an eye. What more could you possibly need for me to prove myself? I’m worthy of my family. You can’t do this to me. You can’t keep me trapped here forever. Do you hear me? I will kill you so brutally that ten generations down your pathetic line will know my name!”
“Faris,” I choked out. “Oh my gods. Is that you?”
